Leigh RMI 1 Northwich Victoria 0: THE faintest of glances from Dave McNiven gave Leigh RMI only their seventh league win of the season on Monday and avoided the looming spectre of the Conference wooden spoon.

Just 12 months ago, McNiven sealed a move to Hilton Park with an inspirational performance against Leigh for Northwich.

But the striker's 24th league goal of the season showed his former side just what they were missing as it ensured that Northwich will prop up the final table.

Despite being condemned to a place in the bottom three, Phil Starbuck had been imploring his young charges to motivate themselves for the final three games and the margin of victory against the Vics, doesn't do justice to the efforts they exerted.

Instead, it pays testimony to their season-long problem: an inability to convert pressure into goals and, ultimately, points.

McNiven and Tristran Whitman combined to set up Carl Rezai in the 20th minute but the midfielder was slow to latch onto the final pass and Glenn Tolley was alert enough to thump the ball away from danger before he could get a shot in.

Rezai wasn't as slow four minutes later, but his curling shot sailed well over Ben Connett's crossbar.

Connett was not so fortunate on the half hour mark when Andy Roscoe's free-kick curled dangerously in from the right flank and beat everybody to

the back of the net via McNiven's thin deflection.

Once Leigh had the breakthrough, they seldom looked likely to surrender the advantage but their failure to convert their chances kept the butterflies in the stomach until the end.

Chris Royle's timid header wide represented the best chance of the first half for the Vics, who were then credited with two efforts in quick s succession from Mark Devlin that were both blocked.

But the best opening of the game for Shaun Teale's visitors came courtesy of a goalkeeping error, Ian Martin's horribly scuffed clearance late on reaching Devlin, only for his rushed return shot to drop hopelessly wide.